Bills would limit salaries, spending by N.J. boards, commissions

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-LedgerOverall view from the gallery as the Senate begins its session at the Statehouse.

TRENTON — The Legislature is advancing bills to limit salaries and spending at New Jersey’s many authorities, boards and commissions — nearly a year after Gov. Chris Christie urged lawmakers to reform what he calls the state’s "shadow government."

Two state Senate committees approved measures today that would put controls on spending by regional agencies, such as the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, and local authorities, including municipal water and sewer utilities.

Last February, Christie said the spending by the unelected leaders of New Jersey’s numerous authorities, boards and commissions adds up to billions of dollars every year.

He signed an executive order to clean up wasteful spending at the many state-affiliated agencies, and he also called on the Legislature to enact new laws to curtail financial abuses at the authorities, boards and commissions that fall outside of direct state control.

This afternoon, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee approved a bipartisan bill that would bar independent and local government agencies from awarding salaries and other compensation that go beyond those received by comparable state executives and employees.

And the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee passed a measure earlier today that would give mayors more power to limit spending by local authorities by giving them the ability to veto meeting minutes.

The legislation directed at agency salaries and compensation, sponsored by Sens. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, and Robert Gordon, D-Fair Lawn, among others, would also force agency employees to follow the same holiday schedule as state employees, and they would face a $15,000 limit on cashing out unused sick days.

The measure, which would also require mandatory contribution to health benefits costs, has already been approved by the full Assembly.

"Governor Christie is absolutely right to have declared war on independent authorities that breach the public trust by using public dollars as the personal playthings of executives," said Sen. Sean Kean, R-Monmouth.

"This bill is a common sense reform that will certainly protect taxpayers," said Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, D-North Haledon.

The legislation was introduced last year after Christie used the high salaries and other perks enjoyed by employees at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission — including the $313,000 annual pay of then-executive director Bryan Christiansen — to highlight his call to reform the authorities, boards and commissions.

Christie, at the time, said no one in government in New Jersey should make more than his $175,000 annual salary, arguing that his job is tougher than any other public official’s in the state.

If the proposed legislation becomes law, no agency executive director would make more than the governor, and no other agency officers could earn more than the $141,000 currently paid to state cabinet-level officers.

The governor, meanwhile, renewed his call for reform earlier this week after the agency drew more media attention for its insider hiring practices, questionable travel expenditures and frequent use of no-bid consulting contracts.

"As we have seen too many times, some of these authorities act without accountability, with egregious salaries and benefits," said Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, D-Englewood. "It’s long past time for that to stop."

Christie has called on the Legislature to grant him the power to veto Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission meeting minutes, but a bipartisan bill sponsored by Weinberg and Sen. Kevin O’Toole, R-Cedar Grove, has stalled.

The legislation granting mayors veto power over local authorities, however, is moving ahead.